Vehicle control apparatus, computer readable storage medium, and vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus is provided, comprising: a state switching unit that switches a state of a vehicle between a first state in which the vehicle accepts a driving manipulation and a second state in which the vehicle does not accept a driving manipulation; a distance acquiring unit that acquires a distance between the vehicle and an charging facility; and a switching control unit that causes the state switching unit to switch the state of the vehicle to the first state if the vehicle is in the second state and the distance between the vehicle and the charging facility is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle control apparatus comprising a processor configured to:
 switch a state of a vehicle between a first state in which the vehicle accepts a driving manipulation and a second state in which the vehicle does not accept a driving manipulation; 
 acquire a distance between the vehicle and a charging facility; 
 cause the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state if the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold; and 
 cause the vehicle to move by automatic driving after the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state further if a remaining charged amount of an electrical storage device of the vehicle is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state further if a charging plug of the charging facility is not connected to the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein after the state of the vehicle is switched to the first state, the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the second state in accordance with a situation in which the distance between the vehicle and the charging facility increases to exceed the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state if a first condition is satisfied while the vehicle is in the second state, and 
 provided that the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state, even if the first condition is not satisfied. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first condition is that a key inserted into a key cylinder of the vehicle is turned, 
 the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state if the key inserted into the key cylinder of the vehicle is turned while the vehicle is in the second state, and 
 provided that the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state, even if the key inserted into the key cylinder of the vehicle is not turned. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first condition is that a start switch of the vehicle is in an ON state, 
 the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state if the start switch of the vehicle is set in the ON state while the vehicle is in the second state, and 
 provided that the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state, even if the start switch of the vehicle is not set in the ON state. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state further if a request for movement by automatic driving is made. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state further if an emergency vehicle passes through a surrounding area of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state further if a short-distance radio communication unit included in the vehicle receives predetermined data. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the predetermined data is data by which a person is identifiable, 
 the processor is further configured to: 
 record a history of the predetermined data if the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 after the processor causes the the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state, control the charging facility not to charge another vehicle until the vehicle moves to a predetermined position. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein if the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state, and performs a control to unlock a door lock of the vehicle. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle having a controlled switchable state, comprising:
 a vehicle; and 
 the vehicle control apparatus according to  claim 1 , operatively connected thereto. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with a program stored thereon, the program causing a computer to:
 switch a state of a vehicle between a first state in which the vehicle accepts a driving manipulation and a second state in which the vehicle does not accept a driving manipulation; 
 acquire a distance between the vehicle and a charging facility; 
 cause the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state if the vehicle is in the second state and the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold; and 
 cause the vehicle to move by automatic driving after the processor causes the state of the vehicle to be switched to the first state.